New race and character!

[hider=Grimalkin][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/D4bjg8F.jpg[/img][h1][u]Grimalkin[/u][/h1][/center]

These feline-featured people were originally created long ago by human mages, to serve as familiars. Magically bound into slavery, and sometimes even used as blood sacrifices, they eventually turned against their creators. Once free, they retreated from the large cities and formed their own small communities, many grimalkin taking on even more independence and living solitary lives as rangers or rogues.

Their history affects their attitude towards magic. While some embrace it, as it helped their ancestors break free from their masters, many more are distrustful of it. This may be ironic for a race with a lot of magical potential, but they claim their past is proof that it's too easily misused. The type they're most accepting of is natural magic, such as their shapeshifting ability, and even that's considered something to only do when necessary. Everything else incites wariness, as they believe those who seek power are typically unfit to wield it.

Those who reject magic often learn martial skill to compensate, and defend themselves against threats, making good use of their catlike agility.

The grimalkin are recognisable by their cat ears, eyes and tails. They have retractable claws on their fingers and toes, and stripe markings on their skin are common. Their senses of hearing and smell are sharper than those of a human, and they have keen night vision. They are also able to take on feline form, resembling either housecats or small wildcats.

For the most part, their communities keep to themselves in small towns and villages, although some intermingle with other races. Being skilled hunters, they often live in or near forests. Places of worship are rare, since most have little to no interest in religion, wishing to be bound to no one.[/hider]

[hider=Tybert Palug][b]Name:[/b] Tybert Palug

[b]Race:[/b] Grimalkin

[b]Age:[/b] 18

[b]Gender:[/b] Male

[b]Appearance:[/b] 
[img]https://i.imgur.com/DZyLeO0.jpg[/img]

Tybert's most striking features (to non grimalkin anyway) are his cat ears and tail, glossy black like his hair. He has tan skin, and running from eye to jaw on either side of his face is a marking resembling a tabby stripe. His eyes are blue and slit-pupilled, and he has small fangs, as well as retractable claws. He stands at 5'11", with a lithe build suited for agility, and scars on his arms from his martial training.

[b]Class:[/b] Fighter

[b]Personality:[/b] Tybert is quiet, refined and finicky, to the point that he could be described as stuffy. He isn't the most approachable person, often wearing a frown and snarking under his breath. It's rare to see him smile, besided the occasional confident smirk, and even rarer to hear him laugh. His haughtiness drives him to be the best he can, so he spends much of his time studying or training.

Those who get past his grouchy exterior will find a much more affectionate side, and may even get him to be somewhat playful (emphasis on "may" and "somewhat"). He's extremely protective of his friends, and has a strong sense of justice in general, refusing to tolerate slavery or exploitation of any kind.

[b]Strengths:[/b]
- His feline traits make him highly agile and flexible. He's good at jumping and climbing, and when falling, can land in such a way as to prevent or minimise injury.
- Skilled at fighting with swords and daggers, and with his claws in a pinch.
- Keen hearing, smell and night vision.
- He can turn into a cat, which is useful for stealth missions.
- If he got over his dislike of magic, he'd be pretty apt at it. Particularly motion magic because of his dexterity, and spells that temporarily enhance others' skills and functions.

[b]Weaknesses:[/b]
- Since he relies on agility, he can't wear heavy armour.
- Despite having an aptitude for magic, he has a strong aversion to all but the most natural kinds. He distrusts magic users, and refuses to use it himself. If he has to use it as a last resort, his conflicting feelings about it often weaken the spell or make it go awry.
- Stuck up and snobbish, he won't admit to his mistakes or shortcomings easily, and is reluctant to take others' advice.
- Loud noises and strong unpleasant smells are overwhelming to his sharp senses.
- His cat transformations take 10-20 seconds depending how tired or injured he is, during which time he can't move and is vulnerable.

[b]Biography:[/b] Growing up in a woodside grimalkin community, Tybert was a fair bit more free-spirited when he was younger. Taught from a young age to train as a fighter like his parents, he tended to defy the strict expectations put on him. Venturing outside of the town was how he met Trixie, a girl from Kako Village.

Trixie appeared to be human, and Kako Village was known for the crafting of magical items - two reasons to be wary. The grimalkin had a difficult history with human mages, the first of their kind having been created by them as familiars and bound into servitude. Many, including his community, outright rejected most forms of magic for this reason. Still, youthful curiosity won out over fear, and he developed a friendship with Trixie. A friendship that, sadly, wore away after an event drove him to take on the ideals of his family and community.

His father died in battle, and Tybert felt the need to follow in his footsteps. Not just this, but to be a good role model to his younger brother in their father's stead. Slowly, he drifted away from Trixie as the anti-magic prejudices of his family and his mentors got to him. Yet, likely thanks to her, his curiosity about it never completely disappeared. Since part of his training was to defend against magic, this involved learning a few things about how it worked, and he looked into it more than he should have.

One day, tragedy nearly struck again, as he learned his brother had been severely injured in a training accident. The medics were doing what they could, but the situation looked bleak. Visiting his bedside, Tybert knew there was only one thing he could do, even if it went against his principles. He wasn't going to lose anyone else. Making sure nobody would notice, Tybert focused and muttered the words for a healing spell. Considering his lack of experience, it took several tries for anything to happen - and by the time he managed to help his brother to any extent, the medics caught him.

He was promptly kicked out from his training, and his family made their utter disappointment clear. Even his brother, who'd been stabilised enough to pull through, admitted he'd rather have died with honour than live in shame. It seemed at first there was nowhere to go, but one person turned out willing to help - a certain old friend. Despite the distance that had grown between them, Trixie was willing to shelter him.

It was through her that he heard of the prestigious Hoseforn academy, and decided to go with her to regain his honour, as well as prove himself to his family. The only issue was it would inevitably be full of mages, but he'd show that even without casting a single spell, he could do better than any of them.[/hider]